After confronting mayors, Duterte to meet with governors

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to meet with governors on Thursday to discuss the country's drug problem a week after he confronted mayors believed to have ties with the narcotics trade.

Duterte's meeting with the governors was scheduled at 2 p.m. at the Palace's Heroes' Hall, a schedule provided by Malacañang to the media showed.

In a speech he delivered in Davao City last Saturday, Duterte said he would ask the governors to use their powers to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in their respective provinces.

"I'd be calling the governors next week. I'd really tell them. You tell your barangay captains, you have supervisory powers cities under you, those that are not yet charter cities, you tell the mayors," the president said.

Duterte had also warned that he can find ways to kill politicians who are protecting or are conniving with drug lords.

"But I would like to tell you, I can't lecture all of you. Do not be complacent with me, sons of b******. I will really kill you. Believe me. I will find you an ambush or I'll poison you" he said in mixed Filipino and Cebuano.

(Original quote: Hindi ko kaya lecturan lahat ng ano… Huwag ka gyud magkumpiyansa sa akin, p***** ina, papatayin talaga kita. Believe me. Hahanapan kita ng ambush, lasunin kita, o.)

Duterte has warned local executives involved in illegal drugs that they would be killed if they do not resign.

He said his brutal crackdown on drug lords and the officials protecting them would continue even if he goes down in history as a butcher.

Duterte reportedly badmouthed and threatened mayors with suspected links to the illegal drugs trade during their meeting at Malacañan last January 11. 

The president later on confirmed that he cursed at local executives with alleged ties to narcotics during the closed door meeting

"Baka akala ninyo nagbobolahan tayo dito. (Maybe you think I am not serious). I called the mayors in the Philippines, locked them down" the president said.

"Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila, totoo iyon (I really told them, it's true) and I said, pardon my language… P**** i** ninyo (sons of b******)!" he added.

"What hurts me is I am thinking that you'll protect the people.”

Duterte previously said about 2,000 barangay captains, municipal mayors, a few governors and congressmen, and some judges were included in the list of officials with alleged connections to drug rings.

Duterte has so far disclosed the names of about 160 incumbent and former government officials, including judges and uniformed men, believed to be involved in illegal drugs. He has given the House of Representatives, Senate and the Supreme Court copies of the drug list, admitting that he cannot solve the problem by himself.